Opinion
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Candace Owens Was Named in the New Zealand Shooter's Alleged Manifesto. But Christchurch Is Bigger Than Her
Every time I write about Candace Owens, I feel manipulated. I feel manipulated because Candace Owens, on her own, is not newsworthy. She’s not witty or particularly charismatic. She’s billed as a commentator and activist, but to describe her grasp on politics, history, gender, or race as shallow would be doing a great disservice to…
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No, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Didn't Call Ronald Reagan a Racist. But She Should Have
One of my earliest memories in life was the night Ronald Reagan was elected president because it was also the night I prayed harder than I ever have in life. During the presidential campaign of 1980, I distinctly remember being terrified after I heard an adult say: “If Reagan is elected, he will send black…
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Tucker Carlson Won't Apologize for Calling Women 'Primitive', Joking About Underaged Girls, and That Sounds About White
Fox News host Tucker Carlson isn’t an outstanding white man. He can’t do anything extraordinary. He can’t sing or dance or jump really high, but he does possess one trait that stands out above most all white men: He’s the loudest whiny white-guy voice in a sea of whiny white guy voices. He’s made a…
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This Ain’t It, Amanda Seales
In 1935, an Australian farmer brought a suitcase filled with 101 cane toads from Puerto Rico and unleashed them in Australia.
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The Friend of My Enemy Is … Van Jones?
I like Van Jones. I like Van Jones in the same way I like Cardi B, Barack Obama and grits, which is to say I like the idea of Van Jones. I’ve agreed with a lot of his commentary on CNN, and I support his efforts on criminal justice reform, most recently as CEO of…
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What It Means When White People Call You Racist
The angriest I’ve ever been was when my cousin failed to show up after promising to give me a haircut on the day of my senior prom. Coming in at a close second is the day I gave Gray Segal (not his real name, but close) a black eye. Gray and I had gym together…
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On Surviving the Potential Damage Done by Jussie Smollett
I wanted to be wrong. I wanted to be wrong for the many survivors whose voices will likely not be taken seriously as a result of Jussie Smollett coming forward with his testimony. I wanted to be wrong for the gay child who was molested and afraid to speak out, hoping this story would give…
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To Be Young, Gifted and White
I don’t necessarily like the term “white privilege.” I use it because society has already accepted a universal, but flawed, definition of the word. Although many understand that whiteness, in and of itself, gifts one at birth with opportunities not afforded to people of color, I understand why many white people push back against the…
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Apparently, White People Need 'Grace' and 'Empathy' From Black People
My uncle be lying. When I was a kid, my uncle James, whom we called “Junior,” owned a Rottweiler named Duchess. Duchess was huge, well-trained and house-broken but my mother and sisters were all afraid of dogs, so it was usually my responsibility to feed and care for Duchess whenever my uncle was out of…
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Maybe Black People Need a Wall
On Tuesday, a few hours before Donald Trump’s Shout-Outs of the Union speech, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that he wouldn’t bring charges against the police officer who shot and killed 21-year-old Emantic Bradford Jr. I tried to listen objectively as the bullshit-artist-in-chief used one-third of his speech to demonize undocumented immigrants, painting them…
